Kelly M. Seeley

Kelly Michael Seeley, 82, of Kalkaska, peacefully passed away at home on Monday, October 31, 2022. Born in 1940, Kelly grew up on a dairy farm in Kalkaska County creating childhood memories of milking cows, making homemade ice cream with his mom, playing with his siblings, and collecting marbles and rocks. He never lost his keen eye for a really pretty rock. Kelly was a fan of everything baseball. He played for his high school baseball team as a left-handed pitcher. As the story is told one of the best left-handers. Although he never pursued a career in baseball, he made sure his sons and neighborhood kids had a place to play and enjoy the game in his own backyard of his home on Spruce Street. When he turned 17, Kelly joined the Merchant Marines and sailed the Great Lakes for three years with the National Steel Company. He had many great stories to share from his portside adventures, always sure to mention his two favorite bars, “Peckerhead Kates” and “Horsefaced Marys” in Chicago. Once Kelly finished his sailing duties and came back on land, he met and married his wife of 57 years Dianna. They started a life and family here in Kalkaska. Not long after, he began his career in pipelining until his retirement in 1995. He proudly belonged to the Operators Union 324. For 31 years Kelly helped establish and maintain the natural gas lines throughout Northern Michigan. Kelly was also an avid hunter and fisherman his entire life thanks to his father’s teaching. He made sure to pass down his love of the outdoors to his own sons. Torch and Round Lakes were the only lakes he deemed worthy to drop a line. Upon his retirement, he was able to do what he loved most, his daily morning trips to Pick Kwik for a coffee and donuts and being outdoors. He enjoyed gardening and devoting his 80 acres to local wildlife. From maintaining deer plots to ensuring they had food all year round, he truly cared for them and their well-being until the very end. In his final months, his sons ensured his final wishes were fulfilled to be spent in his home with those he loved. Kelly will be remembered by many. He lived his life unapologetically and genuinely to what he believed to be true. He was always right, and your way was always wrong. “No two questions about it, it’s as simple as that.” Kelly is survived by his wife Dianna (Driggett) Seeley; sons Michael (Stacey) and Donald (Erin); daughter Kelly; grandchildren Christine (Leif), Johnson, Rebekah Seeley, Joel Seeley, Nevada Kelley, Julia Grace Seeley and Steven Seeley; great-grandchildren Aubrey, Zayland, Leighton, Levi, Hendrix, Mowgli, Mira, Armani and Bennett; brothers Alan Seeley, Barry (Bucky) Seeley, Gary Seeley, Bernard Seeley; sister Michaeline Crawford; and lifelong friend Pete Long. He was preceded in death by his mother Bernadine, father Donald, uncle Joe and lifelong best friend Marvin Thomas. Arrangements have been entrusted to Kalkaska Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

Kelly M. Seeley

July 20, 1940 - October 31, 2022